A meeting will be held at Hillcrest school tonight, that will help to decide the future of the facility..
A “Policy 409 sustainability study” was launched several months ago by the Anglophone East District Education Council…which is a process that helps determine whether or not to close a school…
Shawn Foster is a parent and also a 20 year resident of the west end…He has three sons, Aaron, Ethan and Seth, who either or attend or are former students at Hillcrest.
He is one of several people who will speak tonight in support of keeping the school open, “It’s a small school, maybe a little smaller than it should be right now, but when you walk into Hillcrest School, you get a special feeling. Everybody knows everyone, and the teacher to student ratio is good. Kids get the chance to be involved, in different community events and partners in the neighbourhood.”
It was recently determined that Bessborough School, which is also located in the west end, will have to be replaced..but the DEC will have to vote to decide whether or not Hillcrest should be included in the request for the new facility. That vote will be held on November 29th.
“I was shocked to hear they would consider closing Hillcrest School. Based on the feedback I have from the teachers, parents, community members and people around the city, who know Hillcrest School as one of the best school in the city. Even with its age, it is still a quality school. It is 60 years old, but there are a lot of facilities around that people continue to invest in because they have a quality environment and quality people , ” Foster notes.
Tonight’s meeting gets underway at 7pm tonight at Hillcrest School.
